[Ibpsausa] EnergyPlus V8.0 and Open Studio - Legacy Plugin 1.0.10 Released

[Linda Lawrie]

EnergyPlus Version 8.0 and OpenStudio Legacy Plug-in 1.0.10 Available

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released 
an updated version of EnergyPlus simulation 
software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting, 
ventilating, and other building energy flows. 
Additionally,  a new version of OpenStudio Legacy 
Plug-in for Trimble SketchUp is available, which 
makes it possible to perform EnergyPlus 
simulations using  Sketchup's user-friendly 3-D drawing interface.
Visit www.energyplus.gov to learn more and 
download EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Plug-in now.

Highlights of this release (V8.0.0.007)

The highlights ­ improved and new features ­ are displayed by category.

General

* Speed improvements and many bug fixes throughout.

Datasets

* Weather files (EPW) from TMY3 now have corrected illuminance data.
* Updated life cycle costing price escalation data.

Input

* Added support for sub-hourly values and 
interpolation for schedules that are input using a file (Schedule:File object).
* Added two new fuel type input options 
(OtherFuel1 & OtherFuel2) to all components that 
specify the type of fuel, for general use when 
modeling alternative energy sources, such as wood or other biofuels.

Zone and Surface Models

* Added option to choose timestep-integrated 
calculations for solar, shading, and daylighting 
for use with dynamic facade controls.

Natural and Mechanical Ventilation

* Expanded AirFlow Network support for hybrid 
modeling to include VAV air handlers.

HVAC and Refrigeration

* A new general-purpose plant heat exchanger 
model (HeatExchanger:FluidToFluid) was added for 
coupling and controlling all kinds of plant loops 
and modeling multiple secondary loops (replaces 
HeatExchanger:WatersideEconomizer, 
HeatExchanger:Hydronic, and HeatExchanger:Plate which have been removed).
* New multispeed AC Furnace for high-SEER with 
multistage gas or electric heating coil 
(AirLoopHVAC:UnitaryHeatPump:AirToAir:MultiSpeed).
* New central chiller heater system for 
applications such as ground source heat pump systems.
* New plant model object 
(PlantComponent:TemperatureSource) for a known 
temperature source of supply fluid, such as for 
river, well, or seawater once through cooling.
* Improved electric chiller condenser heat 
recovery modeling to include autosizing, capacity 
limits, inlet temperature limit, outlet 
temperature control, and improved chiller models 
to account for higher rejection temperatures.
* Added support for variable speed DX coils to be 
used with CoilSystem:Heating:DX and CoilSystem:Cooling:DX.
* Improved the equation-fit, single-speed, 
water-to-air heat pump models to include new 
options for cycling or constant fluid flow operation.
* The single-speed DX cooling coil model was 
improved to allow the option of defining 
performance curves for the sensible heat ratio 
(SHR) during operation to support 100% outdoor 
air systems and other low-SHR applications.
* The zone exhaust fan model was improved to 
allow varying flow rates, controlling on a 
minimum temperature limit, selecting how 
availability managers behave and declaring what 
portion of makeup air is balanced.
* Added calculation and reporting of standard 
ratings for HSPF and Net Heating Capacity for 
multi-speed air to air heat pump (Coil:Heating:DX:MultiSpeed).
* Added HVACTemplate support for detailed outdoor air specifications.
* Improved low temperature radiant hydronic 
systems to include options for tubing circuit 
length sizing calculation and multiple tubing circuits.
* Improved horizontal trench ground heat 
exchanger object with simpler interface to piping system objects.

Controls and User Functions

* New Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) capability 
for EnergyPlus itself to be exported as an FMU for co-simulation.
* Improved capabilities for random number 
operations in EnergyPlus Runtime Language programs for EMS.

Output

* Throughout the program the specific names used 
to describe output variables were completely 
overhauled to be clearer, to use consistent 
terminology, and to use the same names across similar components.
* New XML style option for all tabular reports.
* New LEED summary predefined tabular report.
* New ZoneComponentLoadSummary predefined report 
that estimates the load components during a 
sizing period for each zone using a pulse/decay curve method.

Utilities

* IDF Editor ­ Added FILL RIGHT function to copy 
values from left most column selected to those to 
the right of it similar to the fill right function in spreadsheets.
* IDF Editor ­ Added JUMP menu item to jump to 
other fields in other objects that use the same 
name as the currently selected field.
* Weather Converter ­ Design day idf/imf snippets 
for annual and monthly design conditions as 
contained in ASHRAE HOF 2009 were posted to the helpdesk.

Documentation and Guides

* Documentation has been updated for all documents.

Platforms

* Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8) 32 and 64 bit versions
* Linux (Ubuntu 12.04 and compatible) 32 and 64 
bit versions; RHEL 5.0 compatible available on request via helpdesk.
* Mac (10.7 and 10.8) 64 bit versions
* EnergyPlus V8.0 has been tested on all of these platforms
* EnergyPlus does intensive computations, for 
high performance, computers should have a lot of 
memory and fast hard disk speeds.

And many other enhancements and speed improvements throughout.

Thanks!
The EnergyPlus Team

And further information:
Is version 8.0 backward compatible? Can I run v7.2 file in v8.0?

 > There have been MASSIVE changes to output 
variable names (as mentioned above).
 > There have been changes in the following 
objects which require conversion. Either read and 
follow the Rules spreadsheet or use the 
IDFVersionUpdater utility.  The “Rules” 
spreadsheet that contains information on exact 
object changes that you can do by hand. For 
8.0.0.007, the following objects require conversion (from V7.2):
 > ShadowCalculation
 > Coil:Heating:DX:Multispeed
 > EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable
 > EnergyManagementSystem:MeteredOutputVariable
 > HeatExchanger:WatersideEconomizer
 > HeatExchanger:Hydronic
 > HeatExchanger:Plate
 > AirflowNetwork:Distribution:Component:ConstantVolumeFan
 > ZoneHVAC:HighTemperatureRadiant
 > AirConditioner:VariableRefrigerantFlow
 > Boiler:HotWater
 > Chiller:Electric
 > Chiller:ConstantCOP
 > Chiller:EngineDriven
 > Chiller:CombustionTurbine
 > Chiller:Electric:EIR
 > Chiller:Electric:ReformulatedEIR
 > Chiller:Absorption
 > Chiller:Absorption:Indirect
 > And for the HeatExchanger changes - Branch, 
PlantEquipmentList and CondenserEquipmentList 
have to be changed to the new object name.

Multiple Version Conversions

The install includes the IDFVersionUpdater 
program and the necessary programs to convert 
from the previous version to the current version. 
For older versions, you will need to visit the 
helpdesk and download the multiple conversion set 
of programs. "Converting Older Files" 
http://energyplus.helpserve.com/Knowledgebase/List/Index/46/converting-older-version-files 
- will contain the necessary readmes and zip/tar 
files of programs to convert IDFs from older EnergyPlus versions.
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